Dreams Really Do Come True

Achieving Freedom and Independence with Vantage Mobility International


Exceptional Parent, The, Oct, 2000

Imagine having your greatest dream--receiving a much-needed gift you cannot afford--come true. Penny Strickland of Wilmer, Alabama, dreamed of a full-size, easily accessible van to make life a bit easier for herself, her husband, Shannon, and her three daughters: Lauren and Leann, both 7, and Payton, 12.

Earlier this year, Strickland's brother, Wes Thomas, wrote a letter to the "Live with Regis & Kathie Lee" television show nominating her for a special award. Parts of his letter read, "If the Mother of The Year Award is given out to everyday people, the best candidate would be my sister. She is the mother of three very special girls..... Payton, Lauren and Leann all have cerebral palsy..... My sister makes many sacrifices for her girls..... and what little time she has to herself is spent as a parent consultant for children's rehabilitation services. I can think of no one more deserving."

The producers of the show teamed up with Vantage Mobility International (VMI) and Ford Mobility Motoring to make Strickland's dream come true. She was presented with a full size Ford Econoline Chateau van, which was donated by Ford, and a conversion donated by VMI.

Strickland finds her new gift to be user friendly and a vast improvement in enabling her to get her daughters to school, doctors' appointments, and everywhere else they need to be.

Behind the scenes

VMI was founded in 1988 as Vantage Mini Vans. It began with two partners who were disenchanted with the lack of customer service at a Phoenix-based van conversion company. "We try to develop products that will deliver high customer satisfaction," says Doug Eaton, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "We look at our business through the eyes of our customer. At VMI, we think along these lines: If I used a wheelchair, what would I want?"

Today, VMI is the only manufacturer that routinely surveys their customers. VMI attempts to call every customer within two months of purchasing a converted van. "Our CSI (Customer Satisfaction Index) gives us a benchmark on how we're delivering on what we promised," Doug Eaton says.

John Brain is a customer whose 11-year-old son Terry has cerebral palsy. Brain bought a VMI Ford Windstar minivan with a Summit conversion (one of three available conversion options) in January. Terry has limited physical capabilities and uses a wheelchair to get around. Previously, Brain had been transporting his son in a truck, but now cannot imagine living without their converted van. "It used to take 10 to 15 minutes to get him in and out of the truck, and either my wife or I had to stay home when we had places to go. The ramp has made it much easier for Terry to get in and out. He sits like a little king in the back." He adds, "The sales rep did a super job informing us of the things we needed to know. I called around to a lot of other places and they would just answer the questions asked."

VMI Executive Assistant Serena Garriss explains that the wide range of options available in conversions allows VMI to be attuned to each customer's individual needs. "We have a list of options people can receive and if they have a special need, we're not going to tell them `no.' We're going to figure out a way to do it for them."

A simple peace of mind

Safety, reliability, and style are hallmarks of VMI International. The three minivan conversions VMI offers--Northstar, Summit, and Trekker--reflect that commitment.

Kay, Denny, and Matthew Ciganovic from Charlotte, South Carolina, have found freedom in their Dodge Caravan with a Summit conversion. Matthew, 12, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and he cannot bear any weight on his legs. "We have always been really mobile and love to travel. The minivan just gives us so much--we do everything in the car," Kay Ciganovic says. "Matthew has even had to lie down in the back and been quite comfortable. I feel like we could drive cross-country and camp in this van. It's keeping us mobile."

The Northstar conversion minivan comes equipped with an in-the-floor ramp that glides out silently as the vehicle kneels and the door slides open, all by VMI's "One Touch" remote operation.

According to Doug Eaton. "With its unobtrusive doorway, our Northstar has the most user-friendly approach of any vehicle in the market. It gives peace of mind and a psychological edge having the ramp stowed away, versus having the ramp block the doorway. Our market research has also indicated that the slide-out ramp is preferred within the physically challenged community."

Another VMI innovation is the Power Kneel[TM] system. David Eaton, Vice President of Quality Assurance, explains: "The Power Kneel[TM] is a mechanical device that pulls the vehicle down when the door opens and the ramp comes out. It pulls the ramp out so the ramp angle is less steep, and it allows people to get up and down the ramp easier."